UK dive sites: We pick the best

The UK might not be the first location that springs to mind in terms of excellent diving sites. Perhaps your mind immediately goes to the Caribbean, Egypt, or Australia? But actually some of the best diving in the world can be enjoyed in the UK.

There is plenty of marine life to discover of course, but also a large number of wrecks associated with Britain’s wartime history - an awe-inspiring adventure.

We’ve selected some of the best UK dive sites that should impress you, whether you’re just getting into diving or are an experienced diver.

The Farne Islands

If you’re keen for a seafari then head under the water at the Farne Islands, where grey seals wait to entertain you with a spectacular show of graceful swimming.

The seals may even be bold enough to come up and enjoy a playful nibble of your fins, so you’re in for a treat when you get close to these lovely creatures. The Farne Islands don’t have a diving school so you’ll have to obtain qualifications such as a PADI Open Water Certificate elsewhere before you dive.

Don't forget a boat trip around the islands while you're there too.

Weymouth

Weymouth is situated in the beautiful Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site but the attractions aren’t all just on land. There is a lot to see underwater, from intriguing reefs and a superb selection of marine life to a large number of wrecks. You may come across the wreck of a passenger liner, a U-boat or a war ship and some of them are only a few metres below the surface of the water. The Old Harbour Dive Centre provides PADI scuba diving courses if you don’t have diving certification already.

Cornwall

You’re spoilt for choice when diving in Cornwall as there is something to intrigue divers of all levels. There are a number of wrecks as well as diverse marine life such as seals, dogfish, sea fans, dolphins and porpoises. You may even spot a basking shark if you’re lucky. The Manacles is a particularly popular choice for diving but there are several other great spots to choose from such as Penzance and the Lizard peninsula to name a few.

Plymouth

There are many attractions to entice divers to Plymouth, such as the Eagan Layne wreck as well as Hands Deep around nine miles from the shore which offers great marine life such as crabs, dogfish, sea fans and coral. Due to the exposed nature of Hands Deep, good weather conditions are required to dive here. There are several diving schools to choose from in Plymouth if you require training.

Scapa Flow

Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands is a top UK spot for wreck diving. A defeated German fleet was scuttled here in WWI and although the majority of the wrecks were salvaged there are still several warships and destroyers left to explore.

National Diving and Activity Centre

You don’t have to go to the coast in order to enjoy diving as there are several inland places in the UK to dive. The National Diving and Activity Centre located near Chepstow is the UK’s deepest inland diving lake. The site used to be a working quarry but the quarry was flooded in 1996 and now offers entertaining diving for beginners as well as more experienced divers, with a variety of training courses offered here.

Diving Considerations

Diving should not be undertaken without appropriate training but there are many diving schools throughout the UK that can offer various levels of diving courses. Diving in the UK is going to require a wetsuit and often a drysuit since it can get pretty chilly. If you want to avoid the cold as much as possible then the best time of the year to enjoy UK diving is during the summer months. However, it is possible to dive year-round if you have the right equipment and a hardy constitution! It’s important to bear in mind that travelling to diving sites can be a bracing experience too so it’s advisable to wear clothing that will keep you warm enough during the boat trips. As long as you follow safety guidelines, use suitable equipment and plan accordingly for weather conditions, diving in the UK is an activity you’ll quickly get hooked on.